Wichita Lineman
| "Wichita Lineman" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 "Wichita Lineman" single cover |
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| Single by Glen Campbell | ||||
| from the album Wichita Lineman | ||||
| B-side | "Fate of Man" | |||
| Released | October 1968 | |||
| Format | 7" vinyl | |||
| Genre | Country, pop | |||
| Length | 3:05 | |||
| Label | Capitol 2302 | |||
| Writer(s) | Jimmy Webb | |||
| Producer | Al DeLory | |||
| Glen Campbell singles chronology | ||||
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"Wichita Lineman" is the title of a song written by American songwriter Jimmy Webb in 1968. It was first recorded by American country music artist Glen Campbell and widely covered by other artists. Campbell's version, which appeared on his 1968 album of the same name, reached #3 on the U.S. pop chart, remaining in the Top 100 for 15 weeks. In addition, the song also topped the American country music chart for two weeks, and the adult contemporary chart for six weeks.[1] It was certified gold by the RIAA in January 1969.[2] In Canada, the single also topped both the RPM national and country singles charts.[3][4] In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" ranked "Wichita Lineman" at #192. It has been referred to as "the first existential country song";[5] Music journalist Stuart Maconie called it "the greatest pop song ever composed";[6] and the BBC referred to it as "one of those rare songs that seems somehow to exist in a world of its own – not just timeless but ultimately outside of modern music".[7] Wichita Lineman featured in series 12 of BBC Radio 4's Soul Music.[8]
Contents |
[edit] Background and content
Jimmy Webb's inspiration for the lyrics came while driving through Washita County in rural northern Oklahoma. At that time, many telephone companies were county-owned utilities and their linemen were, in fact, county employees. Heading westward on a straight road into the setting sun, Webb was driving through an endless litany of telephone poles, each looking exactly the same as the last. Then, in the distance, he noticed the silouette of a solitary lineman atop a pole. He described it as "the picture of loneliness." Webb then "put himself atop that pole and put that phone in his hand" as he considered what the lineman was saying into the receiver.[9] Glen Campbell added in a statement to the Dallas Observer that Webb wrote the song about his first love affair with a woman who married someone else.[9]
The actual song lyrics mention the name "Wichita" rather than Washita for obvious reasons. Campbell said it was because "Wichita sings better." It doesn't specify its exact location; Wichita, Kansas, in south central Kansas; Wichita County, Kansas, in western Kansas (which is over 250 road miles away); Wichita Falls, Texas; and Wichita County, Texas, have all been suggested as possibilities.
An interesting fact related to the session players is that the famous low-register guitar lead was played by Campbell on a DanElectro Longhorn Baritone guitar belonging to bassist Carol Kaye. Some years later, the instrument was stolen from Kaye's automobile. An identical one can be seen in Campbell's hands in the video of the Stone Temple Pilots version of the song in which Campbell appears.
On a compositional note, the rhythmic syncopation referred to above as "morse code" can be found in other Jimmy Webb compositions including "MacArthur Park" (in the third section of the song) and "Up Up & Away" (in the intro).
The musicians used on the recording were Campbell, Al Casey and James Burton (guitar), Carol Kaye (bass), Jim Gordon (drums), and Al DeLory (piano). The orchestral arrangements were by DeLory.
[edit] Content
The lyrics describe the loneliness that a telephone or electric power lineman feels while he works and his longing for an absent lover.
The phrase "singing in the wire" can refer to the sonic vibration commonly induced by wind blowing across small wires and conductors, making these lines whistle or whine like an aeolian harp. It could also, or even simultaneously, refer to the sounds that a lineman might hear when attaching a telephone earpiece to a long stretch of raw telephone or telegraph line, i.e. without typical line equalisation and filtering.[10] In the recording, a notable feature of the orchestral arrangement is the effort of the violins and keyboards to mimic these ethereal sounds and morse code, and the lyric, "I can hear you through the whine" further alludes to them. If Webb's intent was to actually mimic Morse code, the musical figure between the verses literally spells the word "aaaah" four times (.- .- .- .- ....)
[edit] Cover versions
Steel guitarist Buddy Emmons covered this song in 1970 (two years after Glen Campbell's hit version) on the Elektra album "Suite Steel."
Virtually every adult MOR [middle of the road] artist including Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, Johnny Mathis, Robert Goulet, Andy Willaims, Bobby Goldsboro, and Englebert Humperdink, has covered the song, most of them shortly after the original version proved to be a smash. There were also many instrumental versions including a notable one by Jose Feliciano.
The Clouds covered the song on their 1995 EP "Aquamarine." The song was later included on their compilation albums "Collage" and "Favourites."
Alternative rock band R.E.M. covered this song on their 1996 EP "Bittersweet Me."
Garage-alternative rock band Urge Overkill recorded a version which was released as a 7" single in 1987, then later included in their release Americruiser/Jesus Urge Superstar, which combined their first two albums.
Country singer Keith Urban, a lifelong Campbell fan, also covered it.
In 1997, Wade Hayes released a cover version, which peaked at #55 on the U.S. country music charts. It was to have been included on an album titled Tore Up from the Floor Up, but due to its poor chart performance, the album was delayed. That album was finally released in 1998 as When the Wrong One Loves You Right, with the "Wichita Lineman" cover excluded.[11]
Homer Simpson sang a version of this song in the 15th episode of season 15 "Co-dependents day."
In 2003, Campbell performed a live in the studio version of the song with Stone Temple Pilots, which was included on the DVD that accompanied the band's Thank You album.
James Taylor covered this song on his 2008 release, Covers.
In 2012, Julie Klausner and Sandra Bernhard performed a live version backed up by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists during Klausner's "How Was Your Week" podcast at The Bell House. Ira Glass watched from The Snack Nest.
[edit] Charts and sales
[edit] Chart positions
| Chart (1968-1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Go-Set)[12] | 15 |
| Canada (RPM) | 1 |
| Canada Country (RPM) | 1 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 12 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ) | 10 |
| United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company) | 7 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 1 |
[edit] Year-End Chart
| Chart (1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (RPM | 17 |
| United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company) | 56 |
[edit] Chart successions
| Preceded by "Those Were the Days" by Mary Hopkin |
US Billboard Easy Listening Singles number-one single (Glen Campbell version) December 14, 1968 (8 weeks) |
Succeeded by "I've Gotta Be Me" by Sammy Davis Jr. |
| Preceded by "Born to Be with You" by Sonny James |
US Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single December 21-December 28, 1968 |
Succeeded by "Daddy Sang Bass" by Johnny Cash |
| Preceded by "Love Child" by Diana Ross & the Supremes |
Canadian RPM 100 number-one single December 16-23, 1968 |
Succeeded by "Soulful Strut" by Young-Holt Unlimited |
| Preceded by "I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am" by Merle Haggard |
Canadian RPM Country Tracks number-one single January 13-January 20, 1969 |
Succeeded by "I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am" by Merle Haggard |
[edit] References
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This article uses bare URLs for citations. Please consider adding full citations so that the article remains verifiable. Several templates and the Reflinks tool are available to assist in formatting. (Reflinks documentation) (August 2011) |
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 43.
- ^ RIAA searchable database
- ^ Library and Archives Canada http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.5889&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=25q34bgck2obn02l8qiut07601
- ^ Library and Archives Canada http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.5866&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=25q34bgck2obn02l8qiut07601
- ^ Dylan Jones: If You Ask Me
- ^ Maconie, Stuart (2004). Cider With Roadies (1st ed.). London: Random House. p. 303. ISBN 0-091-89115-9.
- ^ "Wichita Lineman". BBC Radio 2. April 2005. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/witchitalineman.shtml. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ^ "Soul Music - Wichita Lineman". BBC Radio 4. August 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b013f96w. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
- ^ a b Robert Wilonsky (2006-11-02). "Power Lines : Jimmy Webb wrote one of the greatest songs ever. Just don't tell him that.". Dallas Observer. http://www.dallasobserver.com/content/printVersion/296877/. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ http://www.psc.mo.gov/telecommunications/consumer-information/missouri-psc-consumer-services-department/What_to_do_if_you_hear_radio_communications_on_your_teleph.pdf
- ^ "Wade Hayes' "Wrong" Is Just Right for Him". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 28 November 1997. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=HT&p_theme=ht&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFEBA146F802BE&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
- ^ "Go-Set Australian charts - 12 February 1969". Poparchives.com.au. 1969-02-12. http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1969/19690212.html. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
- The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition, 1996
